Patient treatment status notification system

ABSTRACT

A patient treatment status notification system in a healthcare facility with multiple examination rooms includes a first electronic visual status indicator and a second electronic visual status indicator to be installed outside a first examination room, an indicator control circuit configured to communicate with and control the first and second electronic visual status indicators of the first examination room, a manual input device for the first examination room configured to receive user input representing change of a treatment status of a patient assigned to the first examination room, a switch multiplexer configured to communicate with and receive the user input from the manual input device for the first examination room, and a central control processor coupled to the indicator control circuit and the switch multiplexer to update the treatment status of the first examination room.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/503,735 filed on May 9, 2017, the content ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed subject matter herein relates generally to the healthcareindustry and, more particularly, to patient treatment statusnotification systems and methods in healthcare facilities.

BACKGROUND

In the medical field, patients are commonly examined and treated bymedical professionals at designated healthcare facilities, such ashospitals, medical groups and integrated healthcare organizations. Toaccommodate an ever-increasing volume of patients, often on a dailybasis, medical treatment facilities are typically designed with a largequantity of individual examination rooms.

To maximize operational efficiency while preserving effectivehealthcare, patient treatment is typically rendered by a team of varioushealthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, medicalassistants and office administrators. By delegating certainresponsibilities amongst a broader team of individuals, a highly skilledprofessional (e.g., a physician) is able to tend to a larger number ofpatients in a more time-efficient manner.

For instance, the following represents a common chain of medicalinteraction with a patient. After being checked-in by an officeadministrator, the patient is assigned to a particular examination room.Thereafter, a medical assistant commonly engages in some preliminaryexamination steps, such as measuring vital signs and speaking with thepatient to gather pertinent medical information. Once completed, aphysician then performs a detailed medical examination of the patient.Based on the examination, the physician may then instruct a nurse ormedical assistant to undertake a certain course of action, such asadminister a vaccine or draw blood for testing. The chain of treatmentcontinues, as needed, amongst the various professionals within thehealthcare team until the patient treatment process is complete. Oncefinished, the patient exits the examination room, thereby rendering itavailable for cleaning and then use by the next patient in need oftreatment.

Patient information is commonly shared amongst the various members ofthe healthcare team through the use of notes created using electronichealth records system software. For instance, requested medical ordersare often accessed using any linked computer or electronically deliveredto specified personnel (e.g., via a designated mobile device or smartwatch).

Although commonplace in the industry, it has been found that healthcarefacilities that rely upon a chain of medical treatment administered by ateam of various professionals often experience a notable impediment.Specifically, it has been found that certain professionals amongst thehealthcare team are not always readily aware of the exact moment whenhis/her services are required for an ordered task in a particularexamination room.

Healthcare organizations are also striving to improve the flow ofpatients through a limited number of exam rooms by allowing multiplephysicians to share exam rooms. In the past, physicians had their owndedicated exam rooms which, with team-based care, could mean that onephysician's rooms are all occupied and have more patients waiting, eventhough another physician may have an empty room. The shift to sharingnon-dedicated rooms allows for optimal use of a limited number of examrooms, but creates an issue of knowing which exam rooms contain aparticular physician's patients, and which patient should the physiciansee next.

To facilitate the passing of responsibility amongst the variousprofessionals that constitute a particular healthcare team andidentifying which rooms contain a particular physician's patients,medical treatment facilitates often utilize a flag system to notify theteam of the particular stage of patient treatment within eachexamination room. Using the flag system, a flag of a first color may beused to denote that the patient is awaiting examination by a physician,a flag of a second color may be used to denote that the patient is inthe process of being examined by a physician, and a flag of third colormay be used to denote that the physician has completed examination ofthe patient. Other flags or combinations of flags could be used todenote which physician's patient is in a given room and perhaps wherethe physician should go next. In this manner, albeit somewhat complex,other members of the healthcare team can discern when assistance may berequired and/or the impending availability of a certain examinationroom.

Although well-known and widely used in the art, flag systems of the typeas described above have been found to be limited in not onlyscalability, due to the limited number of available flags, but alsooverall efficiency. In particular, the manual task of remembering thecolor code designation for each of the various notification flags and,in turn, changing the sequence of flags in the proper locationthroughout the patient examination process has been found to be largelycumbersome and, as such, is not always properly utilized.

In addition to physical flag systems of the type as described above,light signaling systems have grown in prominence in medical facilitiesto notify a healthcare team of, among other things, which examinationrooms are occupied, where patients and staff members are located, andwhich patients require attention. An example of such a light signalingsystem notification system is currently available for sale by ExpeditorSystems, Inc. However, such light signaling systems typically provideonly a limited amount of information and are relatively cumbersome tooperate.

Accordingly, in view of the above, it is an object of the disclosedsubject matter to provide a healthcare facility that is so equipped,with a novel, scalable, user-intuitive and easily administrable systemfor notifying a healthcare team of the treatment status of the patientslocated within each active examination room.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the disclosed subject matter discloses a patienttreatment status notification system in a healthcare facility withmultiple examination rooms, which includes a first electronic visualstatus indicator and a second electronic visual status indicator to beinstalled outside a first examination room, an indicator control circuitconfigured to communicate with and control the first and secondelectronic visual status indicators of the first examination room, amanual input device for the first examination room configured to receiveuser input representing change of a treatment status of a patientassigned to the first examination room, a switch multiplexer configuredto communicate with and receive the user input from the manual inputdevice for the first examination room, and a central control processorcoupled to the indicator control circuit and the switch multiplexer toupdate the treatment status of the first examination room.

In some embodiments, each of the first and second electronic visualstatus indicators of the first examination room comprises a multicolorlight emitting diode (LED).

In some embodiments, the first electronic visual status indicator of thefirst examination room is configured to emit color light to representthe treatment status of the patient assigned to the first examinationroom, and the second electronic visual status indicator of the firstexamination room is configured to emit color light to identify a primaryhealthcare provider for the patient assigned to the first examinationroom.

In some embodiments, the first electronic visual status indicator of thefirst examination room is configured to emit color light to representthe status of the examination room when not occupied by a patient.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes an occupancy sensor in the first examination roomconfigure to detect occupancy in the first examination room, wherein theswitch multiplexer is configured to communicate with and receiveoccupancy detection signal from the occupancy sensor in the firstexamination room and the central control processor is configured toupdate the treatment status of the first examination room at least basedon the occupancy detection signal from the first examination room.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes a door sensor for the first examination room configured todetect opening and closing of a door of the first examination room,wherein the switch multiplexer is configured to communicate with andreceive door detection signal from the door sensor for the firstexamination room and the central control processor is configured toupdate the treatment status of the first examination room at least basedon the door detection signal from the first examination room.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes an electronic health record (EHR) controller coupled witha computing device in the first examination room and configured tocommunicate with an EHR system.

In some embodiments, the second electronic visual status indicator ofthe first examination room is configured to emit light of a color toidentify a primary healthcare provider for the patient assigned to thefirst examination room, based on access of a medical record of thepatient associated with the primary healthcare provider in the EHRsystem via the computing device in the first examination room.

In some embodiments, the first electronic visual status indicator of thefirst examination room is configured to emit light of a color toidentify the treatment status of the patient assigned to the firstexamination room and/or the status of the examination room when notoccupied by a patient, based on a healthcare team member's entry intothe EHR system or the primary healthcare provider's access to the EHRsystem via the computing device in the first examination room.

In some embodiments, the EHR controller is further configured tocommunicate treatment data regarding the patient of the firstexamination room to the EHR system, the data including at least one oftreatment start time, treatment duration, patient wait time, and delayof the patient.

In some embodiments, the central control processor is configured totrigger a push notification by the EHR system via the EHR controller tonotify a healthcare team member who is next to treat the patientassigned to the first examination room, the push notification includinginformation about the patient and the first examination room.

In some embodiments, the first electronic visual status indicator of thefirst examination room is configured to emit light of a color toidentify the treatment status of the patient assigned to the firstexamination room, based on access of a medical record of the patient inthe EHR system.

In some embodiments, the first electronic visual status indicator of thefirst examination room is configured to blink at a first rate toindicate if the patient in the first examination room is currentlywaiting.

In some embodiments, a first electronic visual status indicator for asecond examination room where a patient therein has waited the longesttime among all current patients for a given primary healthcare provideris configured to blink at a second rate, wherein the second rate ishigher than the first rate.

In some embodiments, the first electronic visual status indicator forthe first examination room is further configured to blink at the firstrate after a period of time to indicate that the patient needs to bere-examined.

In some embodiments, a first electronic visual status indicator for afirst examination room is configured for a particular status to stopblinking when the manual input device receives a user input or isinvoked by a healthcare team member's entry into the EHR system via acomputing device. These actions reset the starting time after which aconfigured period of time can elapse to indicate that the patient needsto be re-examined.

In some embodiments, a first electronic visual status indicator for afirst examination room where a patient therein has waited longer than aconfigured period of time in that status, is configured to blink at asecond rate, wherein the second rate is higher than the first rate.

In some embodiments, a manual input device for a second examination roomwhere a patient therein has waited the longest time among all currentpatients for a given primary healthcare provider, configured to receiveuser input representing change of a treatment status reassigning thatpatient to be seen last among all current patients for a given primaryhealthcare provider, wherein the first electronic visual statusindicator for this second examination room changes to blink from asecond rate to a first rate, while the first electronic visual statusindicator for the examination room where a patient therein has waitedthe second longest time among all current patients for a given primaryhealthcare provider changes to blink from a first rate to a second rate,wherein the second rate is higher than the first rate.

In some embodiments, the manual input device for the first examinationroom comprises a rotary pushbutton that receives a press action and atleast one of a clockwise rotation action and a counterclockwise rotationaction from a user.

In some embodiments, the manual input device for the first examinationroom can be depressed once, twice in rapid succession, or three times inrapid succession in order to advance the room status one step, twosteps, or three steps, respectively.

In some embodiments, the manual input device for the first examinationroom can be rotated clockwise to advance the room status forward one ormore steps, or rotated counter-clockwise to revert the room status oneor more steps.

In some embodiments, the first electronic visual status indicator in thefirst examination room is configured to emit light of a different colorto represent a different treatment status when the manual input devicereceives a user input.

In some embodiments, the first electronic visual status indicator in thefirst examination room is configured to emit light of a different colorto represent a different treatment status based on a healthcare teammember's entry into the EHR system.

In some embodiments, the first electronic visual status indicator in thefirst examination room is configured to emit light alternating betweentwo or more different colors to represent a different treatment statuswhen the manual input device receives a user input or based on ahealthcare team member's entry into the EHR system.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes a medical emergency input device in the first examinationroom, when activated by a user, configured to generate a medicalemergency signal.

In some embodiments, the medical emergency signal of the firstexamination room is displayed by at least one of the first and secondelectronic visual status indicators for the first examination room.

In some embodiments, the medical emergency signal of the firstexamination room is displayed by at least one of a first and a secondelectronic visual status indicators for a second examination room.

In some embodiments, the medical emergency signal displayed by at leastone of a first and a second electronic visual status indicators for atleast two second examination rooms are displayed sequentially in apattern that leads responders to a first examination room.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes a communication interface coupled to a public emergencyresponse system, wherein the medical emergency signal is sent to thepublic emergency response system via the communication interfacedependent upon at least one of time and day of the medical emergencysignal.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes a communication interface coupled to a facility speakersystem, wherein an audible medical emergency signal or message is sentto the facility speaker system via the communication interface dependentupon at least one of time and day of the medical emergency signal.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes a central display system configured to display thetreatment status of the first examination room and the identity of theprimary healthcare provider of the patient assigned to the firstexamination room.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes a central display system configured to display thetreatment status of the first examination room and the identity of theprimary healthcare provider of the patient assigned to the firstexamination room along with data including at least one of treatmentstart time, treatment duration, patient wait time, and delay of thepatient.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes a plurality of configurable examination room statuses,each of which is functionally linked to each other representing workflowsteps.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes a plurality of configurable examination room statuses,each of which is sequentially linked such that the workflow typicallyadvances forward from one status to the configurable butconsistently-linked subsequent status, and when reverting backwardsthrough the workflow, a status moves to a configurable butconsistently-linked prior status.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes a plurality of configurable examination room statuses,each of which is sequentially linked in a cycle such that when advancingforward through statuses, the last status is followed by the firststatus, and when reverting backwards through statuses, the first statusis followed by the last status.

In another aspect, the disclosed subject matter discloses a patienttreatment status notification system in a healthcare facility withmultiple examination rooms, which includes a first electronic visualstatus indicator and a second electronic visual status indicator to beinstalled outside an examination room, wherein the first electronicvisual status indicator is configured to emit color light to representthe treatment status of a patient assigned to the examination room andthe second electronic visual status indicator is configured to emitcolor light to identify a primary healthcare provider for the patientassigned to the examination room, an indicator control circuitconfigured to communicate with and control the first and secondelectronic visual status indicators of the examination room, a manualinput device for the examination room configured to receive user inputrepresenting change of a treatment status of a patient assigned to theexamination room, wherein the manual input device is configured toreceive a press action and at least one of a clockwise rotation actionand a counterclockwise rotation action from a user, a switch multiplexerconfigured to communicate with and receive the user input from themanual input device for the examination room, an electronic healthrecord (EHR) controller coupled with a computing device in theexamination room and configured to communicate with an EHR system, and acentral control processor coupled to the indicator control circuit, theswitch multiplexer, and the EHR controller to update the treatmentstatus of the examination room.

In some embodiments, the patient treatment status notification systemalso includes an occupancy sensor in the examination room configured todetect occupancy in the first examination room, a door sensor for theexamination room configured to detect opening and closing of a door ofthe examination room, a medical emergency input device in theexamination room, when activated by a user, configured to generate amedical emergency signal, a communication interface coupled to a publicemergency response system, wherein the medical emergency signal is sentto an emergency response system via the communication interfacedependent upon at least one of time and day of the medical emergencysignal, a communication interface coupled to a facility speaker system,wherein an audible medical emergency signal or message is sent to thefacility speaker system via the communication interface dependent uponat least one of time and day of the medical emergency signal, and acentral display system configured to display the treatment status of theexamination rooms and the identity of the primary healthcare provider ofthe patient assigned to each examination room along with data includingat least one of treatment start time, treatment duration, patient waittime, and delay of the patient.

In yet another aspect, the disclosed subject matter discloses a methodof displaying patient treatment status notifications in a healthcarefacility with multiple rooms, which includes activating a firstelectronic visual status indicator installed outside an examination roomto emit color light to represent a treatment status of a patientassigned to the examination room, activating a second electronic visualstatus indicator installed outside the examination room to emit colorlight to identify a primary healthcare provider for the patient assignedto the examination room, controlling the first and second electronicvisual status indicators of the examination room by an indicator controlcircuit, receiving user input representing change of the treatmentstatus of the patient via a manual input device, wherein the user inputis one of a press action, a clockwise rotation action, and acounterclockwise rotation action, receiving the user input from themanual input device for the examination room by a switch multiplexer,communicating with an electronic health record (EHR) system via an EHRcontroller, which is coupled with a computing device in the examinationroom, and updating the treatment status of the examination room based onthe user input and information received from the EHR system.

In some embodiments, the method of displaying patient treatment statusnotifications also includes receiving user input representing change ofthe treatment status of the patient via a manual input device, whereinthe user input is one of a single-press action, a double-press action, atriple-press action, a clockwise rotation action, and a counterclockwiserotation action, receiving user input representing a medical emergencyfor the patient via a medical emergency input device, wherein the userinput is a press action, receiving input representing change inoccupancy status for the examination room via an occupancy sensor and/ordoor sensor, receiving the user input from the manual input device, themedical emergency input device, the occupancy sensor and the door sensorfor the examination room by a switch multiplexer, announcing a medicalemergency status of the examination room via a facility speaker system,communicating a medical emergency status of the examination room via anemergency response system, and displaying the treatment status of theexamination room on a central display system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts:

FIG. 1 contains a schematic representation of a patient treatment statusnotification system in a healthcare facility, according to certainembodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the immediate exterior regionof one of the examination rooms illustrated in FIG. 1 , according tocertain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 3(a) shows a rear perspective view of the visual indicatorillustrated in FIG. 2 , wherein the visual indicator is shown with anetwork cable connected thereto, according to certain embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 3(b) shows an exploded view of the visual indicator illustrated inFIG. 2 , wherein the visual indicator is shown with a network cableconnected thereto, according to certain embodiments of the disclosedsubject matter herein;

FIG. 4 shows a front perspective view of the pair of illumination bladesillustrated in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), according to certain embodiments ofthe disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 5 shows an electrical schematic representation of the visualindicator illustrated in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), according to certainembodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 6 shows a bottom plan view of the printed circuit board for thevisual indicator illustrated in FIG. 3(b), according to certainembodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 7(a) shows a front perspective view of the control deviceillustrated in FIG. 2 , wherein the control device is shown with anetwork cable connected thereto, according to certain embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 7(b) shows a rear perspective view of the control deviceillustrated in FIG. 2 , wherein the control device is shown with anetwork cable connected thereto, according to certain embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 8 shows an electrical schematic representation of the controldevice shown illustrated in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), according to certainembodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 9 shows a bottom plan view of the printed circuit board for thecontrol device illustrated in FIG. 7(b), according to certainembodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 10 shows an electrical schematic representation of the LED driverillustrated in FIG. 1 , according to certain embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 11 shows a bottom plan view of the printed circuit board for theLED driver illustrated in FIG. 10 , according to certain embodiments ofthe disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 12 shows an electrical schematic representation of the switchmultiplexer illustrated in FIG. 1 , according to certain embodiments ofthe disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 13 shows a bottom plan view of the printed circuit board for theswitch multiplexer illustrated in FIG. 12 , according to certainembodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 14 depicts one configuration of the housing and electrical wiringfor the central control circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 , according tocertain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 15 depicts one configuration of stacked processor, LED driver andswitch multiplexer illustrated in FIG. 14 , according to certainembodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 16 illustrates one possible cycle of patient treatment statusnotifications which can be implemented using the patient treatmentstatus notification system illustrated in FIG. 1 , according to certainembodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein;

FIG. 17 contains a schematic representation of a patient treatmentstatus notification system in another healthcare facility, according tocertain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein; and

FIG. 18 contains a schematic representation of a patient treatmentstatus notification system in another healthcare facility, according tocertain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Healthcare Facility 11

FIG. 1 contains a schematic representation of a patient treatment statusnotification system (eFLAG system) 25 in a healthcare facility 11,according to certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter herein.As explained in detail below, the healthcare facility 11 is equippedwith an enhanced means for tracking and displaying patient treatmentstatus in real time.

As defined herein, the healthcare facility 11 can represent any medicalenvironment where patients are routinely examined and treated by a teamof healthcare professionals. For instance, the healthcare facility 11may represent, inter alia, a hospital, medical group or integratedhealthcare organization.

The healthcare facility 11 can include a set of examination or treatmentrooms 13-1 thru 13-n that can be managed by personnel organized througha team administration center or station 15, located in close proximitythereto. Together, rooms 13-1 through 13-n and administration center 15can form a designated unit or department, within the larger healthcarefacility 11. For ease of illustration and understanding, the healthcarefacility 11 is represented schematically as comprising a single unit.However, it is to be understood that the healthcare facility 11 caninclude a plurality of distinct units to accommodate various healthcareteam practices.

Additionally, in the description that follows, the electronicarchitecture of the disclosed subject matter herein can be designed toprovide electronic patient treatment status notifications for a unitconsisting multiple (e.g., 8-12) examination rooms. However, it shouldbe noted that the electronic architecture of the disclosure subjectmatter herein is readily scalable and, as such, can be modified toaccommodate a greater number of examination rooms 13 within each unit.

The healthcare facility 11 can be equipped with a computer network 17for compiling and communicating electronic health records. Specifically,the healthcare facility 11 can include a plurality of computing devices21-1 thru 21-n, each of which can be located within a correspondingexamination room 13 inside the healthcare facility 11. Each computingdevice 21, in turn, can be electronically linked with an electronichealth record (EHR) controller 23 that receives, organizes, and storespatient data compiled from each individual computing device 21 in eachunit of the healthcare facility 11. In this manner, the EHR controller23 can serve as a hub of computer network 17.

In some embodiments, the EHR controller 23 is represented as a singlenetwork server that is programmed with appropriate electronic healthrecords software. For instance, the computer network 17 may rely uponelectronic health records software of the type which is renderedavailable in the marketplace by Epic Systems Corporation.

In some embodiments, the EHR controller 23 is represented as beinglocated within the healthcare facility 11. However, it should be notedthat the EHR controller 23 need not be located within the healthcarefacility 11. Rather, it is to be understood that the EHR controller 23can be remotely located and operate as the hub of a secure, cloud-based,health records system.

In operation, the computing devices 21 can be accessed by healthcareprofessionals assigned to treat patients within each unit of thehealthcare facility 11. As explained below, the EHR controller 23 isable to readily identify the particular examination room 13 in whicheach compute device 21 is located (e.g., through the use of across-reference table).

Patient Treatment Status Notification System (eFLAG System) 25

As explained in detail below, the healthcare facility 11 is equippedwith an electronic notification system (eFLAG system) 25 forcommunicating the treatment status of the patient located within eachexamination room 13. Via electronic patient treatment statusnotifications, the eFLAG system 25 can facilitate the transition ofpatient care responsibilities amongst the team of healthcareprofessionals responsible for a particular unit. In some embodiments,the eFLAG system 25 can be integrated or linked with the computernetwork 17 and the EHR controller 23.

In some embodiments, the eFLAG system 25 can comprise a plurality ofvisual status indicators 27-1 thru 27-n, with one visual statusindicator 27 designated and installed in the immediate vicinity of eachexamination room 13. Each visual status indicator 27 can beelectronically linked with a central control circuit 29 that can belocated at the team administration center 15, as will be explainedfurther in detail below.

Each visual status indicator 27 can provide a user-intuitive way fordetermining the real-time examination status of a patient assigned to aparticular examination room 13. In some embodiments, a visual statusindicator 27 can indicate the examination status of a patient through aconfigurable cycle of color-coded lights. In this manner, patients canbe treated by the healthcare team in an efficient, timely, and effectivefashion.

In some embodiments, the eFLAG system 25 can include a plurality ofcontrol devices 31-1 thru 31-n, with one control device 31 installed inthe immediate vicinity of each examination room 13. Each control device31 can be electronically linked with the central control circuit 29, aswill be explained further in detail below. The illumination status ofeach visual status indicator 27 can be updated through manual actuationof its corresponding control device 31 (i.e., the control device 31designated for the same examination room 13).

In some embodiments, the eFLAG system 25 can also comprise a pluralityof occupancy sensors 33-1 thru 33-n as well as a plurality door sensors35-1 thru 35-n, with one occupancy sensor 33 and one door sensor 35installed in each examination room 13 in electronic communication withthe central control circuit 29. For example, each occupancy sensor 33can detect occupancy in the examination room 13 (e.g., by motion, heat,etc.) and may be in the form of a low voltage ceiling sensor of the typemanufactured and sold by Cooper Controls under its OAC-DT line ofsensors. For another example, each magnetic door sensor 35 may be in theform of a magnetic door sensor manufactured by UXCell of Hong Kong.Together, each complementary set of sensors 33 and 35 can allow forautomatic update of its corresponding visual status indicator 27,thereby simplifying the overall operation of the eFLAG system 25. Forinstance, occupancy sensors 33 may be used in the configuration of theeFLAG system 25 to detect when a patient has exited an examination room(e.g. after changing into clothes and departing).

In some embodiments, the integration of the eFLAG system 25 with anelectronic health records computer network, whether new or preexisting,can improve overall ease of operation. For example, the input of patientdata by a medical assistant using a computing device 21 located in aparticular room 13 can be used, inter alia, to automatically identifythe examination room a patient is located and the particular physicianthat should be designated to administer the examination (e.g., based ona preexisting relationship or notable medical issue flagged in thepatient health records). Similarly, communication between the eFLAGsystem 25 and the computer network 17 can help ensure that the properpatient status is displayed (e.g., resolving certain situations when onemember of the healthcare team fails to properly activate the controldevice 31 to denote a change in patient treatment status).

Visual Status Indicator 27

Referring now to FIG. 2 , each visual status indicator 27 can beinstalled outside its corresponding examination room 13 in a highlyvisible location. For instance, as illustrated in FIG. 2 , the visualstatus indicator 27 is mounted along the top, outside portion of doorframe 37 of the examination room 13 to ensure adequate visibility.

Referring now to FIGS. 3(a), 3(b), and 4, each visual status indicator27 can comprise a light circuit 39 that is affixed to an outer housing41, the construction of each to be described in detail below. The lightcircuit 39 can include a printed circuit board (PCB) 43 on which a pairof light emitting diodes (LEDs) 45-1 and 45-2 as well as an outputconnector 46 are mounted. The electrical schematic of the light circuit39 is provided in FIG. 5 . The wiring pattern for the printed circuitboard 43 is provided in FIG. 6 . In some embodiments, each LED 45-1 or45-2 can be capable of generating multiple (e.g., seven) distinct colorsfor use within the eFLAG system 25. For instance, each LED 45-1 or 45-2may be in the form of a 5 mm, clear, tri-color (red, green blue)through-hole LED.

The outer housing 41 can provide at least two functions, namely, (i) asa mount device to facilitate installation of the visual statusindicators 27 (e.g., onto a conventional single gang electrical outletbox) and (ii) as an optical device to help disperse light illuminatedfrom the LEDs 45. In some embodiments, the outer housing 41 can beformed as a unitary piece that is constructed of a suitably rigid and atleast partially opaque material, such as plastic. However, it is to beunderstood that outer housing 41 could be alternatively constructedusing multiple components formed from different materials.

In some embodiments, the outer housing 41 can comprise a generallyrectangular cover plate 47 having a predominantly flat front surface49-1 and a predominantly flat rear surface 49-2. The cover plate 47 canbe appropriately dimensioned to mount onto a conventional, single-gangelectrical outlet box (not shown). In some embodiments, the cover plate47 can be provided with a pair of transverse circular openings 51 thatare located in alignment with the pair of internally threaded, mountingbores formed in a conventional single-gang outlet box. In this manner,the cover plate 47 can be affixed to the outlet box by inserting screwsthrough openings 51 and into threaded engagement with the correspondingbores in the outlet box.

In some embodiments, the outer housing 41 can also include a pair ofhollowed light receptacles 53-1 and 53-2, each receptacle 53-1 or 53-2being generally rectangular in transverse cross-section and projectingorthogonally away from the rear surface 49-2. Each receptacle 53 can beappropriately dimensioned to receive a corresponding LED 45 from thelight circuit 39 and thereby direct or focus light illuminated therefromtowards the front of the outer housing 41. The receptacles 53 can betogether shaped to include a pair of inwardly projecting, articulatinglatch fingers or snaps 55-1 and 55-2 which align for snap engagementwithin corresponding notches 56-1 and 56-2 formed in opposing ends ofthe printed circuit board 43. In this matter, the PCB 43 can be snappedin a reliably consistent orientation, affixed securely to the outerhousing 41.

In some embodiments, the visual status indicator 27 can also comprise apair of thin illumination blades 57-1 and 57-2 that are fittinglydisposed within appropriately dimensioned openings in the cover plate 47which are in optical communication with the receptacles 53-1 and 53-2,respectively. Each blade 57-1 or 57-2 can be mounted so as to projectorthogonally out from the front surface 49-1 of the cover plate 47. Eachblade 57-1 or 57-2 can have an elongated, wedge-shaped construction(i.e., trapezoidal in longitudinal cross-section), with at least onebroad surface 58-1 having a roughened texture to help disperse light andthereby improve the visibility of light shone therethrough and anopposing surface 58-2 that is generally smooth, the distinction betweensurfaces 58-1 and 58-2 being seen in FIG. 4 . As can be appreciated,light emitted from each LED 45 can be focused forward by itscorresponding receptacle 53 and emanates throughout the exposed outersurfaces of the blade 57, primarily through the one or more roughenedsurfaces 58-1, to create a relatively dispersed and conspicuouscolor-based visual indicator.

As referenced earlier, the color shown through each of top and bottomblades 57-1 and 57-2 can be used to identify the treatment status of thepatient assigned to an examination room 13. In this manner, the entireteam of healthcare professionals assigned to the collection of rooms 13can quickly and easily discern when he/she is responsible for performinga specified task in treating patients within the unit.

In some embodiments, the color emanating through one blade 57-1 or 57-2(e.g., the top blade) can be used to indicate the status of thecorresponding examination room 13, for example, when a certain medicalprofessional, including the attending physician, is responsible forundertaking a particular task in connection with the treatment of thepatient located within the corresponding examination room 13. Forinstance, a medical assistant, who typically handles certain preliminarytreatment steps (e.g., gathering general patient data, taking vitalsigns, etc.), may be notified by illuminating the top blade 57-1 in afirst color (e.g., magenta), whereas a nurse, who often handles finaltreatment steps (e.g., drawing blood samples, administering vaccines,etc.), may be notified by illuminating top blade 57-1 in a second color(e.g., red).

In some embodiments, the color emanating through another blade (e.g.,the bottom blade 57-2) can be used to denote the specific healthcareprovider (e.g., a particular physician) primarily assigned to treat thepatient within the corresponding examination room 13. Because multiplehealthcare providers typically cover a common unit, the bottom blade canbe color-coded to designate primary patient examination responsibilityamongst the team of healthcare providers. For instance, a first doctormay be designated using the color green and a second doctor may bedesignated using the color yellow.

In some embodiments, the light provided by the blade denoting thespecific healthcare provider (e.g., a physician) may remain illuminatedthroughout examination of the patient. In this manner, this blade cancontinuously notify the healthcare team the particular physicianresponsible for the patient. Because each physician bears enhancedresponsibilities in regard to the ultimate well-being of his/herpatients, this blade via its color-coded light can create a constant andeasily identifiable reminder to each physician of the patient rooms 13that are directly under his/her care, as well as an indication to thestaff of where that physician is in the event they have to urgentlylocate that physician.

To increase the visibility of either blade 57, in some embodiments, eachLED 43 can be set to initially strobe at a defined rate when attendanceis required. If the healthcare provider is delayed in attending to thepatient beyond a predefined threshold, the LED 43 can be set to strobeat an increased rate to denote an increased sense of urgency. Once theproper healthcare provider attends to the patient, which can beconfirmed by certain actions (e.g., depressing the control device 31 oraccessing the patient records using the computing device 21 in thecorrespondence examination room 13), the strobing LED 43 can be set tostop flashing and illuminate a solid color to denote active treatment bythe attending healthcare provider.

To improve guidance for a healthcare provider (e.g., a physician) whentwo or more examination rooms 13 contain patients waiting for thathealthcare provider, in some embodiments, the eFLAG system 25 can bedesigned such that the LED 43 for the examination room containing thepatient who has waited the longest is set to strobe faster than the LEDsfor other examination rooms. In some embodiments, a healthcare teamprofessional can perform certain actions (e.g. rotate its correspondingcontrol device 31) to reset the faster-strobing LED 43 such that it willreturn to normal flashing. In some embodiments, that the LED 43 for theexamination room containing the patient who has waited the next longestcan be set to strobe faster than the LEDs for other examination rooms.

The functions of the top blade and the bottom blade are eachconfigurable and can be exchanged.

Control Device 31

Referring back to FIG. 2 , each control device 31 can be installedoutside its corresponding examination room 13, e.g., at a heightconvenient for user access while reducing the risk of inadvertentchild-activation (in one example, approximately 58 inches above thefloor). As noted previously, each control device 31 can be used tomanually update the illumination state of its corresponding visualstatus indicator 27.

Referring now to FIGS. 7(a), 7(b), 8, and 9, each control device 31 cancomprise a pushbutton circuit 61 that is affixed to a cover plate 63 toprovide a largely modular construction. The pushbutton circuit 61 caninclude a printed circuit board (PCB) 65, shown in isolation in FIG. 9 ,onto which is mounted a pushbutton switch 67, a status LED 69, and anelectrical connector 71, all of which are represented schematically inFIG. 8 .

In some embodiments, the pushbutton switch 67 can include a rotaryencoder with a momentary pushbutton switch, thereby allowing forswitching amongst a plurality of defined positions or switching states,through the manual depression or uni-/bi-directional rotation of anenlarged actuation knob 73. For instance, the pushbutton switch 67 maybe in the form of a Series 288 rotary encoder of the type manufacturedby CTS Corporation.

The cover plate 63 can be a largely solid plate appropriatelydimensioned to be mounted onto a conventional, single-gang electricaloutlet box using screws. A small circular opening or window 75 on thecover plate 63 can allow LED 69 to at least partially projecttherethrough and thereby visually display the operability state of thepushbutton circuit 61. The cover plate 63 can also be shaped to definean enlarged, centralized circular bore 77 through which the rotor shaftof pushbutton switch 67 projects, with the actuation knob 73 mounted onits free end to facilitate actuation.

Central Control Circuit 29

Referring back to FIG. 1 , each visual status indicator 27, controldevice 31, occupancy sensor 33, and door sensor 35 within a designatedunit can be electrically coupled to the central control circuit 29,which can be located in the team administration center 15 for that unit.The central control unit 29 can be electronically coupled with thecomputer network 17 and the EHR controller 23. As a result, the centralcontrol circuit 29 is able to operate in conjunction with the computernetwork 17 and the EHR controller 23 to control and regulate theoperation of the eFLAG system 25, as well as to convey the statuses ofexaminations rooms 13 via the computer network 17 and the EHR controller23.

For example, via the communication with the EHR controller 23, the eFLAGsystem 25 can change the color emanating through a blade (e.g., the topblade) to indicate a room status change when a certain medicalprofessional logs into the computing device 21-1 in the examination room13-1 without the medical professional's manual operation of the controldevice 31-1, change the color emanating through a blade (e.g., the topblade) to indicate that a healthcare team professional using thecomputing device 21-2 has requested another healthcare team professionalto come and provide help in the examination room 13-2, or change thecolor emanating through a blade (e.g., the bottom blade) to denote thespecific healthcare provider (e.g., a particular physician) primarilyassigned to treat the patient within the corresponding examination room13-n as a result of the healthcare team professional using the computingdevice 21-n in the examination room 13-n to look up the record of apatient for that healthcare provider.

In some embodiments, receipt of the statuses of the examination rooms 13by the EHR controller 23 also enable the ability, among other things, todisplay a visual representation of all of the exam rooms and theirstatuses, display the location and status of each patient in thehealthcare provider's daily schedule, automatically add documentation ofaccurate face-to-face visit times for the healthcare provider which isoften used for billing purposes, calculate accurate anticipated waitingtimes for patients, and report on resource efficiency and productivityin order to optimize resources and productivity.

In some embodiments, the central control circuit 29 can comprise aprogrammable processor 101, at least one LED driver circuit 81 inconnection with a connector 46 of each visual status indicator 27 (e.g.,via a Cat5e Ethernet cable), at least one switch multiplexer 83 inconnection with a connector 71 of each control device 31 (e.g., viaCat5e Ethernet cable), and a network patch panel 85 in connection withthe computer network 17, each of the sensors 33 and 35, and the outputof each LED driver circuit 81 and switch multiplexer 83 (e.g., via Cat5eEthernet cable).

As referenced briefly above, the LED driver circuit 81 can beelectrically coupled to the connector 46 for each visual statusindicator 27 and can be responsible for, among other things, regulatingthe supply of power to LEDs 45. In this sense, the LED driver circuit 81can control, in part, the illumination state of each visual statusindicator 27.

In some embodiments, the LED driver circuit 81 can include a printedcircuit board (PCB) 87, on which are mounted, inter alia, a plurality ofinput connectors 89, each of which is connected to the PCB 43 of acorresponding visual status indicator 27, and an output connector 91which is connected to the network patch panel 85. An electricalschematic of the LED driver circuit 81 is in FIG. 10 and a wiringpattern for the PCB 87 is in FIG. 11 .

In some embodiments, the switch multiplexer 83 can be electricallycoupled to the pushbutton switch 67 and the sensors 33 and 35, and canbe responsible for, among other things, monitoring the switch status ofeach control device 31 and the statuses of the sensors 33 and 35. Byconnecting each control device 31 and sensors 33 and 35 to the networkpatch panel 85 via the switch multiplexer 83, the healthcare facility 11can be wired in a more cost-efficient and readily scalable fashion.

In some embodiments, the switch multiplexer 83 can include a printedcircuit board 93, on which are mounted, inter alia, a plurality of inputconnectors 95, each of which is connected to the PCB 65 of acorresponding control device 31, and a single output connector 97, whichis connected to the network patch panel 85. An electrical schematic ofthe switch multiplexer 83 is in FIG. 12 and a wiring pattern for the PCB93 is in FIG. 13 .

In some embodiments, the network patch panel 85 can be disposed in theteam administration center 15 (e.g., within a cabinet or other physicalstructure that affords protection and suitable airflow) and provide aneasy-to-manage solution for connecting together the complex electricalnetwork for the eFLAG system 25. For example, the network patch panel 85can be a RJ45-type patch panel.

In some embodiments, the programmable processor 101 (e.g. a singleboard, Raspberry Pi compute device) can be connected to each of thenetwork patch panel 85, the LED driver circuit 81, and the switchmultiplexer 83, and is responsible for controlling the operation of theeFLAG system 25. In other words, the programmable processor 101 can bespecifically programmed to manage and customize operation of the eFLAGsystem 25.

FIG. 14 represents one possible arrangement of the housing andelectrical wiring for the central control circuit 29. For example, thecentral control circuit 29 can be housed within a cabinet 103 thatprovides suitable air flow. In some embodiments, the processor 101, theswitch multiplexer 83, and the LED driver circuit 81 can be arranged ina stacked configuration to facilitate electrical interconnection and tominimize overall footprint, as illustrated in FIG. 15 . Referring backto FIG. 14 , the network patch panel 85 can be separately mounted withinthe cabinet 103 and can be identified with labelled markings todesignate the specific room and component to which each cable jackelectrically connects.

The central control circuit 29 can be readily scalable to accommodate agreater number of units and/or examination rooms 13 within each unit.For instance, the central control circuit 29 could be modified toaccommodate a greater number of exam rooms 13 by simply stacking andelectrically connecting a single processor 101 to multiple LED drivercircuits 81 and multiple switch multiplexers 83. In this manner, thecentral control circuit 29 can be increased in scale without increasingits overall footprint.

Sample Cycle of Patient Treatment Status Notifications

As explained above, the eFLAG system 25 can be configured to provide aunique, user-intuitive way of providing the real-time patient carestatus to a designated team of healthcare professionals. Referring nowto FIG. 16 , a sample cycle or chain of treatment statuses isrepresented generally by reference numeral 105.

As the first step in the treatment process, a patient checks into thehealthcare facility 11 and identifies the nature of the visit. Theaforementioned registration process is either initiated by (i) thepatient (e.g. using a compatible software application, such as theMyChart mobile application or the Welcome application running on akiosk) or (ii) an office administrator present at the healthcarefacility 11.

After check-in, the healthcare facility 11 can designate an examinationroom 13 for the patient in accordance with a predefined room assignmenthierarchy (e.g., based on order of registration, nature of visit,patient urgency, room availability, etc.). Once an examination room 13is available and has been assigned to the patient, activation of theeFLAG system 25 can commence upon either (i) entry into the examinationroom 13, which can be recognized by sensors 33 and/or 35 in theexamination room 13, (ii) access of the patient health records via thecomputing device 21 in the examination room 13, or (iii) manualactivation of the control device 31 (e.g., thru depression of theactuation knob 73) associated with the examination room 13. As a result,the top blade 57-1 of the visual status indicator 27 can display thecolor assigned to the “rooming” status (e.g., magenta), as representedby reference numeral 107 in FIG. 16 .

With the patient in the room, as represented by reference numeral 107,compilation of certain patient-related data may be undertaken by amember of the healthcare team. All health-related data can be uploadedonto the electronic health records software (e.g., an EHR system)installed on the computer network 17.

Based on certain factors, such as physician availability and/or priorrelationship, the computer network 17 can recognize a designatedphysician for the patient. As a result, the bottom blade 57-2 of thevisual status indicator 27 can display the color pre-assigned to thatphysician (e.g., green), as represented by reference numeral 109 in FIG.16 .

As the healthcare team professional exits the examination room 13, theycan activate the eFLAG system 25, for example, by depressing or rotatingthe actuation knob 73 on the control device 31 associated with theexamination room 13. As a result, the top blade 57-1 of the visualstatus indicator 27 can display the color assigned to represent ahealthcare provider (e.g., green), and will be blinking to designate a“waiting for provider” status, as represented by reference numeral 111in FIG. 16 .

Upon arrival at the examination room, the physician can activate theeFLAG system 25, for example, by depressing the actuation knob 73 on thecontrol device 31 or through accessing the patient health records usingthe computing device 21. As a result, top blade 57-1 stops flashing andilluminates in the solid color representing a healthcare provider (e.g.green for physician), while the bottom blade 57-2 continues to displaythe specific physician's pre-determine color, thereby notifying otherprofessionals within the healthcare team that the patient is currentlybeing evaluated by the designated physician, as represented by referencenumeral 113.

The assigned physician then engages in the primary examination of thepatient. After finishing examination of the patient, the doctorelectronically signifies completion of his/her responsibilities withinthe treatment process, for example, by activating the control device 31upon departure from the room or by simply signing out of the electronichealth records software from the computing device 21.

A single depression of the actuation knob 73 on the control device 31can activate the top blade 57-1 of the visual status indicator 27 in thecolor designated for the next professional in the treatment cycle 105.In the present example, a nurse is designated as the next professionalin treatment cycle 105 and is represented by the color red. Accordingly,when the physician transfers responsibility to the nurse (e.g., toobtain a blood sample), the top blade 57-1 of the visual statusindicator 27 can initially strobe at a defined rate to indicate thathis/her presence is required, as represented by reference numeral 115.Upon detecting arrival of the nurse (e.g., through activation of thecontrol device 31), the eFLAG system 25 can illuminate the top blade57-1 of the visual status indicator 27 solidly in the designated color(e.g. red in this example), as represented by reference numeral 117.

In the present example, the cycle 105 can transition from the nurse to amedical assistant (e.g., to complete the treatment and check-outprocess). Accordingly, in the sample cycle 105, the eFLAG system 25 candisplay the transition in responsibility by illuminating the top blade57-1 of the visual status indicator 27 as a flashing blue color, asrepresented by reference numeral 119. As noted previously, the top blade57-1 may strobe at an increased rate after a predefined period of timeto denote an increased sense of urgency in tending to the patient.

Once the medical assistant attends to the patient, the medical assistantcan activate the eFLAG system 25 (e.g., by depressing the actuation knob73 on the control device 31). As a result, the top blade 57-1 of thevisual status indicator 27 can stop flashing and illuminate in the solidblue color assigned to the medical assistant, as represented byreference numeral 121.

In the present example, the medical assistant finishes the visit.Accordingly, in the sample cycle 105, the eFLAG system 25 can displaythe transition to the patient dressing and exiting the room byilluminating the top blade 57-1 of the visual status indicator 27 as asolid yellow color, as represented by reference numeral 123.

When the patient completes dressing and leaves the room, the eFLAGsystem 25 can recognize this action with sensors 33 and/or 35 in theexamination room 13 and in the present example, the top blade 57-1 canstart flashing the yellow color to alert that the examination room 13 isnow empty and ready for cleaning, as represented by reference numeral125. The eFLAG system 25 can also turn off the light on the bottom blade57-2 of the visual status indicator 27 because that healthcare provideris no longer associated with that the examination room 13.

Once the medical assistant returns to the examination room 13 to cleanit, the medical assistant can activate the eFLAG system 25 (e.g., bydepressing the actuation knob 73 on the control device 31). As a result,the top blade 57-1 of the visual status indicator 27 can stop flashingand illuminate in the solid yellow color assigned to the status ofcleaning the room, as represented by reference numeral 123.

In the present example, the sample cycle 105 transitions from thecleaning the room to the room being empty when the medical assistantactivates the eFLAG system 25, for example, by depressing the actuationknob 73 on the control device 31 associated with the examination room13. As a result, the top blade 57-1 of the visual status indicator 27can shut the light off, designating that the examination room 13 is nowempty, clean, and ready for the next patient, as represented byreference numeral 129.

In the present example, the eFLAG system 25 is designed to cycle amongsta team of three professionals in a specified circular order. In otherwords, the eFLAG system 25 is configured in a pattern that continuouslycycles from the medical assistant, to the physician, to the nurse, andthen back to the medical assistant, as shown in FIG. 16 .

However, as referenced above, the treatment cycle 105 need not belimited to any particular number, type, or order of healthcareprofessionals. Rather, the particular number, type, and arrangement ofhealthcare professionals within the sample cycle 105 could be modifiedto fit various needs.

It is also to be understood that the transfer of responsibilitiesinvolved in the treatment of a patient need not always proceed in thespecific order defined in the sample treatment cycle 105. Rather, thetransfer of responsibilities amongst a team of healthcare professionalsis largely dictated by the particular needs of the patient. Accordingly,the eFLAG system 25 is designed to allow for the transfer ofresponsibility from one professional in the healthcare team to any otherprofessional in the healthcare team by actuating the control device 31as many times as required to skip to the required person in the cycle.

For instance, if a physician determines that a particular step would bemost effectively served by the medical assistant, the physician can skipover the nurse in treatment cycle 105 by depressing the actuation knob73 on the control device 31 two times. As a result, the visual statusindicator 27 would switch from illuminating the color code associatedwith the physician on the top blade 57-1 to illuminating the color codeassociated with the medical assistant on the top blade 57-1. In thismanner, the chain of patient treatment can be modified, as needed, tosuit the needs of each patient.

Healthcare team professionals can also move one or more steps forward orbackwards in the treatment cycle 105 by rotating the actuation knob 73on the control device 31 clockwise or counterclockwise, respectively.Recognizing that depressing the actuation knob 73 may inadvertently alsorotate the actuation knob, the eFLAG system 25 can be designed to ignorespurious rotations of the actuation knob 73 on the control device 31.

Through this design, it is to be understood that each professional inthe healthcare team can readily assess patient examination status, inreal time, by monitoring the illumination state of each visual statusindicator 27 within the team unit. If/when a designated blade 57 in anyvisual status indicator 27 flashes in his/her assigned color, thehealthcare professional intuitively recognizes immediate responsibilityfor a specified treatment task, the details of which may be ascertainedvia electronic health records accessed via the computer network 17.

It should be noted that the sample cycle 105 discussed above is providedfor illustrated purposes only. As such, it is to be understood thatnumerous variations to the sample cycle 105 could be implementedaccording to different embodiments of the disclosed subject matterherein. For example, one or more new treatment steps can be added intothe treatment cycle; one or more treatment steps can be removed from thetreatment cycle; one or more treatment steps can be changed orrearranged in the treatment cycle.

In some embodiments, the eFLAG system 25 can also support one or moreout-of-cycle steps to be associated with a treatment cycle 105. Forexample, referring to FIG. 16 again, after initiation examination, ahealthcare provider 113 (e.g., a physician) can refer the patient to seeanother healthcare provider 114 (e.g., a specialist). After thespecialist 114 has tended the patient, the treatment of the patient canreturn back to the physician 113. Similarly, other healthcare teamprofessionals can be requested to temporarily join a healthcare provider113 (e.g., a physician) in the examination room 13. In one example, thevisual status indicator 27 would change from illuminating the color codeassociated with the physician on one blade (e.g., the top blade 57-1) toalternately also illuminating the color code associated with therequested healthcare team professional. When the requested healthcareteam professional arrives at the examination room 13, they can activatethe eFLAG system 25 (e.g., by depressing or rotating the actuation knob73 on the control device 31). As a result, one of the blades (e.g., thetop blade 57-1) of the visual status indicator 27 can stop flashing andilluminate in the color code associated with the physician, therebyletting other healthcare team professionals know that the physician'srequest has been satisfied.

In some embodiments, integration of the eFLAG system 25 with the EHRsystem can enable healthcare providers to interact with the eFLAG system25 through keywords or commands (e.g., SmartLinks) of the EHR system,which can be entered using a computing device 21 in the examination room13 or other computing devices connected to the computer network 17. Forexample, a staff can enter .FlagLab to indicate the patient is going tothe lab, .FlagRad to indicate the patient is going to the radiologydepartment, .FlagWaitingroom to indicate the patient is in the waitingroom, .FlagBreastfeeding to indicate the patient is to be left alone inthe exam room while she breastfeeds her infant, or .FlagTreatment toindicate the patient is undergoing a treatment such as intravenoushydration or an albuterol nebulizer. Use of these keywords or commandsof the EHR system in this way can cause the eFLAG system 25 to modifyits function or display of status. For example, when .FlagBreastfeedingis entered into the computing device 21-1 in the examination room 13-1,the eFLAG system 25 can cause one blade (e.g., the top blade 57-1) ofthe visual status indicator 27-1 to display a constant room-occupancypatient status color 123 until the door sensor 35-1 is activated whileignoring the occupancy sensor 33-1. Similarly, in another example, when.FlagTreatment is entered into the computing device 21-1 in theexamination room 13-1, the eFLAG system 25 can cause one blade (e.g.,the top blade 57-1) of the visual status indicator 27-1 to flash statuscolor 115 every 10 minutes to remind a nurse to check on the patient,with the blade of the visual status indicator 27-1 displaying a constantstatus color 117 every time the nurse arrives to check the patient bydepressing or rotating the actuation knob 73 on the control device 31.

Features of the Disclosed Subject Matter

The design of the eFLAG system 25 disclosed herein introduce a number offeatures over traditional healthcare facility notification systems,according to certain embodiments.

As the first example, the eFLAG system 25 has integration that enablesreceipt of information from the computer network 17 and the EHRcontroller 23. As a result, changes in patient treatment status can, inpart, be automatically detected by the eFLAG system 25 through routinesteps involving normal use of the computer network 17, thereby creatinga notification system that is significantly easy to operate and faulttolerant. For instance, the color emanating through the bottom blade57-2 of the visual status indicator 27, which denotes the specificphysician assigned to treat the patient within the correspondingexamination room 13, is set correctly and automatically as a byproductof a healthcare team professional using the computing device 21 in theexamination room 13 to look up the record of the patient for thatphysician. Similarly, a healthcare provider can change the coloremanating through the top blade 57-1 of the examination room's visualindicator status 27 to indicate that healthcare provider is in the roomsimply by logging into the computing device 21 in the examination room13. For another instance, access of the EHR controller 23 can triggermore complex statuses, such as treatments which require reminders tonurses every 10 minutes, or to request specific staff to come to theexamination room, for example, causing the top blade to blinkalternating colors of the staff member requested and healthcare teamprofessional already in the room. Pressing the control device 31 canstop the blinking so other staff members know they don't need torespond. Integration with the EHR controller can also allow for everytreatment status to be set via the EHR system so staff with disabilitiescan take advantage of all of the eFLAG system's capabilities, e.g., byentering a SmartLink instead of reaching and activating the physicalrotary button.

As the second example, the eFLAG system 25 has integration that enablessending communication to the computer network 17 and the EHR controller23. As a result, changes in patient treatment status is communicatedmore accurately than would otherwise be possible relying solely on proxymeasures such as logging in and out of a computer in the examinationroom or real-time location systems that don't know the healthcareprofessional's intent when they leave a room, such as whether they planto return or who the next person needed in the room is. The high levelof data accuracy enabled by this integration makes it possible todisplay detailed room statuses on team-wide displays (“TeamBoard”) andindividual healthcare provider schedules. It can also enable calculationand display of accurate anticipated wait times for patients orface-to-face time documentation for healthcare provider billing. In oneinstance, the integration with the EHR controller allows the TeamBoardto display length of time in a given status, with highlights to showexcessive lengths of time in that status. Integration with the EHRcontroller can also allow for these highlights to account for thescheduled visit length. For another instance, integration with the EHRcontroller 23 can allow manual or automatic notification of staff (e.g.,via their smartphones) about room status changes or requests,supplemented by EHR data such as orders that have already been entered.

As the third example, the eFLAG system 25 leverages room sensors 33 and35 to optimize the efficient use of the examination rooms 13. Forinstance, when a patient is left alone in the examination room 13 to getdressed and leave on his/her own, the eFLAG system 25 can, for exampleby detecting the door is reopened and/or no occupancy is detected,automatically recognize an empty room and activate the top blade 57-1 ofthe visual status indicator 27 to blink a specific color indicating thatthe room is empty and ready for cleaning, even if the patient closes thedoor after they leave, without the need for making a patient wear anexpensive and impersonal tag typical of real-time location systems.

As the fourth example, the eFLAG system 25 includes an easilydiscernable and user-intuitive means for determining the real-timepatient treatment status and healthcare provider location across anentire unit of examination rooms 13. Simple visual cues guide healthcareprofessionals towards the examination room that they need to go intonext. For instance, a rapidly blinking physician light whichautomatically activates if the patient has waited too long, alerts boththe medical assistant to enter the room and ask the patient if they needanything while waiting for the physician, as well as the physician tohurry up to get into that room. Accordingly, the healthcare facility 11is able to provide prompt, effective and satisfying patient care withgreat efficiency. In one instance, when multiple examination rooms havepatients waiting, the visual status indicator can blink faster for theexamination room containing the patient who has waited the longest. Thestaff can have the option to reset the waiting status (e.g., via thecontrol device 31) for that examination room, e.g., to put it to theback of the waiting line, so the physician can be directed to firstvisit a patient that won't take long instead of a patient with lengthyproblems.

As the fifth example, the eFLAG system 25 is easily scalable andtherefore able to accommodate use in wide variety of differenthealthcare environments. Most notably, each visual status indicator 27can be used to signal a large quantity of distinct professionals withina designated healthcare team. Furthermore, the design of the eFLAGsystem 25 allows for multiple units, each consisting of a considerablenumber of examination rooms 13, to be all linked together to provide aconsolidated approach for monitoring the well-being of patients within arelatively large treatment facility.

As the sixth example, the eFLAG system 25 is highly configurable foreach healthcare team within a diverse healthcare facility 11. Healthcareteams can easily configure the quantity, order, and types of statusesapplicable to their team. They can choose which colors indicate whichstatuses and which healthcare providers. They can choose which statusesrequire blinking lights, how fast those lights should blink, whether theblinking should speed up after a period of time, how long that period oftime should be, and how much faster the blinking should be.

As the seventh example, the eFLAG system 25 uses a representation ofroom statuses which can be intuitively manipulated by the controldevices 31 and/or via integration with the EHR controller 23. The eFLAGsystem 25 can use one or more of three paradigms to represent roomstatuses: 1) the standard workflow cycle, 2) out-of-cycle statuses, and3) add-on statuses. The standard workflow cycle can consist of two ormore room states that can by stepped forward through by depressing theactuation knob 73 on the control device 31. Single-clicks,double-clicks, and triple-clicks of the actuation knob 73 on the controldevice 31 can intuitively and efficiently advance through 1, 2 or 3statuses, respectively. Similarly, clockwise rotation of the actuationknob 73 on the control device 31 can intuitively and efficiently advanceforward through the workflow cycle, while counter-clockwise rotationmoves backwards to prior statuses in the workflow cycle. This can allowfor common workflow cycle paths to be accomplished easily with a singledepression of the actuation knob 73 on the control device 31, while thesame actuation knob 73 on the control device 31 can be used to jump toany other status. In some embodiments, the same action that advancesfrom status to status also returns to the first status when done withthe last status. The eFLAG system can both reflect the current state andindicate the state coming next. In addition, the visual representationof a workflow cycle can match the physical motion of rotating theactuation knob 73 on the control device 31, making it easier to learnand more natural to use. In some embodiments, a user can readily actuatethis single actuation knob 73 on the control device 31 without having tofind it among a cluster of other actuators. Furthermore, in someembodiments, having a single actuator instead of multiple one canminimize the use of precious wall space. The second paradigm of roomstatuses includes the ability to jump at any moment to any number ofoptional “Out of Cycle” statuses. This allows for an almost unlimitednumber of less common states without interfering with the efficiency ofthe standard workflow cycle. The third paradigm of room statusesincludes the ability to “add-on” a second status to the current status.This reflects the reality that during the course of the standardworkflow cycle, it is not unusual to need the assistance of anotherhealthcare professional. These simple and logical paradigms can beenacted through the use of the actuation knob 73 on the control device31 and/or the computing device 21 that communicates with the EHRcontroller 23, and they can be visually displayed through combinationsof the visual status indicators 27 or within the EHR or on a “TeamBoard”which shows the status of all examination rooms.

As the eighth example, the eFLAG system 25 is able to accuratelyidentify the amount of time a healthcare provider spends face-to-facewith a patient and convey this information in real time to an EHR systemvia the EHR Controller 23. This enables the EHR system to facilitate theuse of time-based billing for patient encounters which affords theopportunity for maximizing revenue to reflect the actual billable workthat was performed.

As the ninth example, the eFLAG system 25 is able to compile accuratehistorical data relating to the transfer of patient care amongst ahealthcare team. For instance, by reviewing such data, the healthcarefacility 11 can evaluate the rate of treatment provided by certain teamsin order to discover, and potentially resolve, any staff or resourcedeficiencies or excesses.

Alternate Embodiments and Design Modifications

The embodiments shown above are intended to be examples only and thoseskilled in the art will be able to make numerous variations andmodifications to it without departing from the spirit of the disclosedsubject matters herein. All such variations and modifications areintended to be within the scope of the disclosed subject matters hereinas defined in the appended claims.

For instance, the eFLAG system 25 could be modified, as needed, toprovide the healthcare facility 11 with a simple and effective way forinitiating an emergency alert condition.

Referring now to FIG. 17 , for example, the eFLAG system can be modifiedto provide the healthcare facility 11 with a way for initiating anauditory emergency alert condition through a designated unit orthroughout a larger section of the healthcare facility 11. In someembodiments, the eFLAG system 25 can include a panic broadcast subsystemthat can include a set of panic sensors 127-1 thru 127-n, with a panicsensor 127 located inside each examination room 13. Each panic sensor127 can be in the form of a momentary pushbutton switch (e.g., of thesame type as the control device 31) that is, in turn, electricallycoupled to the central control circuit 29.

In operation, when a panic sensor 127 in a specific examination room 13is manually activated (e.g. when the occupant of the examination room 13depresses the momentary pushbutton switch during an emergency), theeFLAG system 25 can broadcast an alert signifying the emergency status.In some embodiments, the eFLAG system 25 can generate an audio signalcontaining a description and location of the emergency (e.g. “Code Blue!Code Blue! Code Blue in Internal Medicine Exam Room 13-2”). This audiosignal can be conveyed via the central control circuit 29 to a facilityspeaker subsystem 129 in connection therewith. In response, the facilityspeaker subsystem 129 can broadcast an audible alert signal to aselection of speakers installed within the healthcare facility 11.Additionally, the eFLAG system 25 can activate the lights for the visualstatus indicator 27 for the specific examination room 13 that triggeredthe emergency status. In some embodiments, the eFLAG system 25 cangenerate a flashing light pattern that is unique to the triggeredemergency (e.g., alternately blinking the colors (e.g. red and blue) ofthe top blade 57-1 and the bottom blade 57-2). This unique visualcharacteristic can immediately provide to first responders a visual cluethat is helpful in identifying the specific room with the emergency.

Referring now to FIG. 18 , for example, the eFLAG system could bemodified to generate a silent alarm. In some embodiments, the eFLAGsystem 25 can provide the healthcare facility 11 with a way forinitiating a more discreet emergency alert condition. For example, theeFLAG system 25 can include a discreet panic alert subsystem thatincludes a set of panic sensors 127-1 thru 127-n, with a panic sensorlocated in each examination room 13 in communication with the centralcontrol circuit 29.

The discreet alert subsystem can differ from the panic broadcastsubsystem illustrated in FIG. 17 in that, when a panic sensor 127 in aspecific examination room 13 is activated (e.g. when the occupant of theexamination room 13 depresses a momentary pushbutton switch during anemergency), the eFLAG system 25 can generate a relatively unobtrusivealert signal. In some embodiments, the eFlag system 25 can transmit acorresponding signal to an emergency responder notification subsystem131. In response, the subsystem 131 may send an automated voice messageto designated telephones or alert a dispatcher to manually calldesignated telephones, as well as activate the lights for the visualstatus indicator 27 for the specific examination room 13 that has anemergency status, generating a flashing light pattern unique to theemergency (e.g., alternately blinking the colors (e.g. red and blue) ofthe top blade 57-1 and the bottom blade 57-2). Additionally, the eFLAGsystem 25 may activate the lights within the visual status indicator 27associated with other examination rooms 13 in order to provide anintuitive visual clue that can direct the first responders to theparticular room having the emergency (e.g. all bottom blades 57-2 of thevisual status indicator 27 could illuminate in a sequential pattern inthe hallways leading up to the examination room with the emergency,while still indicating the status of rooms that still have patientswithin them). In some embodiments, the eFLAG system 25 can combinefunctionality shown in FIG. 17 with functionality shown in FIG. 18 ,such that both a speaker system announcement as well as a silentemergency response notification could occur simultaneously.

In some situations, during certain times of the day or certain days ofthe week patients may be in the building with only lesser-trained staff(e.g. phlebotomists) who are not qualified to respond to medicalemergencies. The eFLAG system 25 can be configured such that based onthe time of day and day of week, the overhead paging system announcementcan be modified to announce that an ambulance has been called. Inaddition, the eFLAG system 25 can be interfaced to a security alarmsystem and trigger a zone on the alarm. The alarm monitoring companywould be notified in advance that when this particular zone's alarm istriggered, they should call for an ambulance to come to this department.

Additional Embodiments

While a visual status indicator outside an examination room can conveythe status of that room, for a larger healthcare facility it may bedifficult to view several hallways simultaneously to, for instance,identify which rooms need cleaning or are available for the nextpatients. In some embodiments, referring back to FIG. 1 , an eFLAGsystem 25 can also include a central display module (e.g., TeamBoard 85)to assemble and display the status of multiple or all examination roomsin a healthcare facility.

In some embodiments, a TeamBoard 85 can include computer softwareprogram for communication with an EHR system and the rest of the eFLAGsystem 25, and a computer monitor for displaying the information. Inoperation, TeamBoard can send a request to the EHR system for the statusof certain examination room(s). In response, the EHR system can beconfigured or modified to recognize such a request and return the statusof each examination room requested including, for example, how long theroom has been in that status, and information that had been previouslyconveyed by the eFLAG system to the EHR system. If the healthcareprovider is in the examination room, the EHR system can also look intoits schedule to see how long that patient's visit was supposed to be forand send that information as well back to TeamBoard. The TeamBoard canthen display all of the examination rooms and their statuses and,optionally, highlight any examination rooms that have been in thatstatus an excessively long period of time (e.g. patient waiting for aphysician, or a physician with the patient longer than was scheduled).

The TeamBoard can also display the patient wait time for each healthcareprovider, so that the healthcare providers and staff know how late theyare running. This information can be calculated using a softwareenhancement to the EHR system and then conveyed to the TeamBoard fordisplay. The TeamBoard can also allow other display screens to be madevisible for a period of time (fixed or variable), such as a displayscreen showing telephone statistics from a separate application. TheTeamBoard can also be synchronized so that if multiple TeamBoards are inuse, one can display the eFLAG system status and wait times while theother shows telephone statistics, and then each can switchsimultaneously to show the alternate screen. The multiple displayarrangement can be configurable, e.g., switching the two displayscreens.

The TeamBoard can be highly configurable, including but not limited toshowing any floorplan, colors for statuses, whether or not to allowother screens to be seen, and how frequently to switch to alternativescreens. In one example, the TeamBoard can use any JPEG or PNG imagefile as the background so that it can accommodate as simple or complex afloorplan as desired. Optionally, a “You are here” icon can be placed ontop of the floorplan image so that a user can orient his/her perspectiveas he/she looks at the floorplan. In another example, other statuses ofthe examination rooms (e.g. a provider waiting for a nurse to come to aroom, or a Code Blue in the room) can be visualized on the TeamBoard.

In some embodiments, integration of the eFLAG system 25 with an EHRsystem, via the EHR controller 23, can allow the eFLAG system 25 to sendpush notifications to the proper personnel through the EHR system. Insome embodiments, an EHR system can have built-in functionality thatallows secure messages to be sent to users or groups of users, e.g., totheir mobile devices. The EHR system can also have the ability to alertthe user with a “Push Notification” that they just received a new securemessage. In one example, the eFLAG system 25 can trigger a “PushNotification,” which can be visible on a locked smartphone, whereas theuser would have to login to an application on the phone to see theassociated secure message. In another example, the eFLAG system 25 cantrigger a “Push Notification,” with all of the information that the userneeds to know without having to login to the phone or an application onthe phone. These Push Notifications can be configured to be sent only tothe people who need to know them, and only at the time that they arerelevant and actionable.

The eFLAG system 25 can trigger Push Notifications via the EHR system inmultiple situations. For example, when a healthcare provider (e.g.physician) is done seeing the patient and needs another staff member tocome to room to perform a task, the healthcare provider can press orturn the control device 31 (e.g., a rotary pushbutton) upon exiting theroom to set a new status that requests another particular type of staffmember. As a result, the eFLAG system 25 can change the visual statusindicator in the examination room to convey that type of staff memberrequested and can also alert, via a Push Notification of the EHR system,which staff member is being requested. In some embodiments, the PushNotification can be configured to alert one or more staff members of thetype desired, show the number of the room that is ready for them,identify the healthcare provider who requested them, and any orders thatthe healthcare provider may have placed in the EHR system that need tobe done by the staff member (e.g. giving a treatment such as a breathingtreatment, or doing a procedure such as cleaning out ear wax or puttinga dressing on a wound, or doing a test such as doing a throat culture).In some embodiments, healthcare providers (e.g., medical staff) can usestandard functionality in the EHR system to assign themselves to groupsthat will receive the message (e.g. Internal Medicine MA Pager Pool orPediatric Nurse Pager Pool). In this example, healthcare providers(e.g., medical staff) can respond in a timely manner without having tokeep checking for status changes of the examination rooms, e.g., bylooking up at the visual status indicators outside each examination roomor viewing the TeamBoard.

When a patient arrives at the healthcare facility 11 to check in, thepatient usually identifies him/herself and identifies the nature of thevisit. The check-in process is usually either initiated by (i) thepatient (e.g. using a compatible software application, such as theMyChart mobile application or the Welcome application running on akiosk) or (ii) an office administrator present at the healthcarefacility 11.

In some embodiments, if self-registration is undertaken by the patientvia a check-in kiosk (e.g. in a facility lobby), a camera equipped inthe kiosk can automatically capture a digital photograph of the patientand load the image linked to the patient chart in the medical healthrecords software. If an office administrator present at the healthcarefacility 11 manually performs the check-in registration process, acamera located in the vicinity of the office administrator, which can beincorporated into the wall or another useful object such as a clock, canautomatically capture a digital photograph of the patient and load theimage linked to the patient chart in the medical health recordssoftware. Both of these methods of photography can be automaticallytriggered by a system integrating with the medical health recordssoftware with additional software which identifies when a patient ischecking in and which camera to use to take their photo. In this manner,a medical assistant can readily identify the patient in the waiting roomand personally greet them in a manner more effectively respecting thepatient's privacy (e.g., by eliminating the need to call the name of thepatient in a crowded waiting room), thereby creating a more comforting,friendly, and quiet waiting room atmosphere. Optionally, the photo ofthe patient can be displayed in the schedule in the EHR system and/or onthe TeamBoard. In some embodiments, upon completion of the patientexamination process, the captured image can be automatically or manuallyerased from the patient health record for privacy and security purposes.

In this example, the healthcare facility 11 can be designed todiscreetly capture a photograph of a patient at initial check-in, eithermanually or automatically. By capturing a photo and, in turn, linkingthe photo with the patient file, a medical assistant is able readilyidentify and personally greet the patient in the waiting room.

In other embodiments, if self-registration is undertaken by the patientvia a check-in kiosk (e.g. in a facility lobby), an electronic relayswitch attached to the kiosk can be automatically triggered by a systemintegrating with the medical health records software with additionalsoftware which identifies when a patient is checking in at that kiosk,and when the check-in process is complete. This relay switch canactivate a kiosk screen sterilization method after the completion of thecheck-in process at the kiosk. In other embodiments, this electronicrelay switch attached to the kiosk can be automatically triggered by atime-of-flight sensor to detect the presence of a patient using thekiosk, and determine with that patient has left so that the relay switchcan activate a kiosk screen sterilization method.

When a patient is waiting in an examination room for a healthcareprovider, it is an opportunity to entertain and educate the patient sothat he/she doesn't feel like he/she is wasting time. In someembodiments, while the patient awaits examination by the designatedphysician, a customized screen saver (RoomEd) can be activated on one ormore monitors in the examination room 13. The screen saver can becustomized for the patient based on the designated provider and dataassociated with the patient in the EHR system. For instance, if thepatient suffers from a notable medical condition, information slidesrelating to the condition may be displayed to the patient foreducational purposes. Optionally, through a prior setup process, adefined set of screen saver slides which are chosen by the designatedphysician (e.g. displaying notable information about the physician orrelated to the physician's specialty, facility or organization) may alsodisplay on linked monitors for viewing. In this manner, the patientremains engaged and relaxed while waiting for the attending physician.

In some embodiments, the RoomEd screensaver software computer cancommunicate with the EHR system each morning to determine which imagesit will likely need to display during that day. The EHR system can checkwhich healthcare providers are scheduled to see patients that day anddetermine which provider-specific, department-specific,specialty-specific, and/or patient-specific images that the RoomEdscreensaver should display that day. The RoomEd screensaver can thendownload those images in advance or on demand if the local computer doesnot already have the right images or the latest version thereof. Whenthe RoomEd screensaver is activated (for example, when a staff presses akey-combination, e.g., Windows-Z, on the local computer in theexamination room), the RoomEd screensaver software can communicate withthe EHR system to find out which images to display, e.g., based on thepatient and provider that are in that examination room or the schedule.The RoomEd screensaver software can display those images as a slideshowto the patient until there is movement of the mouse or keyboard. In thisexample, the RoomEd screensaver software via integration with the EHRsystem can determine and display educational and entertaining imagesbased on the providers, their department, their specialty, theorganization, and the specific problems that the patient has.

We claim:
 1. A patient treatment status notification system in ahealthcare facility, comprising: an electronic health record (EHR)controller configured for receiving and storing health records for apatient, wherein the health records identify (a) a current treatmentstatus selected from a plurality of treatment statuses in a treatmentcycle for the patient and (b) a primary healthcare provider assigned tothe patient; a first electronic visual status indicator comprising afirst multicolor light installed at an exterior of an examination roomwithin the healthcare facility, wherein: the first multicolor light isconfigured to emit colored light to indicate a treatment status of thepatient; and the patient is assigned to the examination room within thehealth records for the patient stored in the EHR controller; a secondelectronic visual status indicator connected with the first electronicvisual status indicator and comprising a second multicolor lightinstalled at the exterior of the examination room, wherein the secondmulticolor light is configured to emit colored light to indicate, forthe patient, the primary healthcare provider that is identified withinthe health records; an indicator control circuit configured tocommunicate with and control the first electronic visual statusindicator and the second electronic visual status indicator; at leastone manual input device outside the examination room, wherein the atleast one manual input device is at least one of rotatable or pressableto receive user input to change a treatment status assigned to thepatient within a plurality of treatment statuses of the treatment cycle,wherein the treatment cycle identifies an occurrence order of theplurality of treatment statuses; at least one occupancy sensorpositioned in the examination room and configured to detect occupancy inthe examination room; a switch multiplexer configured to receive a userinput signal from the at least one manual input device outside theexamination room and to receive an occupancy detection signal from theat least one occupancy sensor in the examination room; and a centralcontrol circuit coupled to the indicator control circuit, the switchmultiplexer, and the EHR controller, wherein the central control circuitis configured to: cause the first multicolor light of the firstelectronic visual status indicator of the examination room to emit colorlight in a first color identifying the current treatment status of thepatient as indicated in the health records, wherein the currenttreatment status of the patient is initiated by receiving, from theswitch multiplexer, at least one of (1) a first user input signal basedon manual activation of the at least one manual input device or (2) theoccupancy detection signal from the at least one occupancy sensor;identify a second color of light that identifies the primary healthcareprovider assigned to the patient as indicated in the health records andcause the second electronic visual status indicator of the examinationroom to emit color light in the second color while the first electronicvisual status indicator emits light in the first color; update thecurrent treatment status in the health record stored by the EHRcontroller to a second treatment status of the plurality of treatmentstatuses based at least on one of (1) a second user input signal fromthe at least one manual input device or (2) a change in occupancyindicated by the occupancy detection signal; and change the lightemitted by the first multicolor light from the first color to a thirdcolor identifying the second treatment status while the secondelectronic visual status indicator emits light in the second color,wherein the third color is determined based on the occurrence order ofthe plurality of treatment statuses indicated in the treatment cycle. 2.The patient treatment status notification system of claim 1, wherein thecentral control circuit is further configured to cause the firstmulticolor light to blink at a defined rate based at least on the userinput from the at least one manual input device and the occupancydetection signal.
 3. The patient treatment status notification system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a door sensor for the examination roomconfigured to detect opening and closing of a door of the examinationroom, wherein the switch multiplexer is configured to communicate withand receive a door detection signal from the door sensor for theexamination room and the central control circuit is further configuredto: (i) update the current treatment status of the patient in the healthrecords stored by the EHR controller based at least in part on the doordetection signal from the examination room, the user input from the atleast one manual input device, and the occupancy detection signal, and(ii) change a color of the light emitted by the first multicolor lightbased at least on the door detection signal, the user input from the atleast one manual input device, and the occupancy detection signal. 4.The patient treatment status notification system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a computing device positioned in the examination room andconfigured to communicate with the EHR controller to automaticallyidentify the primary healthcare provider by accessing the health recordsstored in the EHR controller.
 5. The patient treatment statusnotification system of claim 4, wherein: the central control circuit isconfigured to, in response to the computing device in the examinationroom accessing the health records stored in the EHR controller for thepatient, cause the second multicolor light of the examination room toemit light in the second color that identifies the primary healthcareprovider.
 6. The patient treatment status notification system of claim1, wherein: The health records stored by the EHR controller comprisesdata indicating treatment start time, treatment duration, patient waittime, and delay for the patient.
 7. The patient treatment statusnotification system of claim 4, wherein: the central control circuit isconfigured to trigger a push notification by the EHR controller inresponse to updating the current treatment status in the health recordsassociated with the patient, wherein the push notification includeshealth records associated with the patient.
 8. The patient treatmentstatus notification system of claim 4, wherein: the central controlcircuit is configured to, in response to the computing device in theexamination room accessing health records stored in the EHR controllerfor the patient, cause the first multicolor light of the examinationroom to emit light in the first color.
 9. The patient treatment statusnotification system of claim 1, wherein: the central control circuit isconfigured to cause the first multicolor light of the examination roomto blink at a first rate when the health records stored in the EHRcontroller indicates that the patient is currently waiting for ahealthcare provider.
 10. The patient treatment status notificationsystem of claim 9, wherein: the EHR controller is configured to storehealth records for a plurality of patients; and the central controlcircuit is configured to determine, based on the health records storedin the EHR controller for the plurality of patients, which of thosepatients has a longest waiting time, and if the patient in theexamination room is determined to have the longest waiting time amongthe plurality of patients, cause the first multicolor light to blink ata second rate, wherein the second rate is higher than the first rate.11. The patient treatment status notification system of claim 1, whereinthe at least one manual input device for the examination room comprisesa rotary pushbutton configured for receiving a press action and at leastone of a clockwise rotation action or a counterclockwise rotation actionfrom a user.
 12. The patient treatment status notification system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a medical emergency input device in theexamination room, wherein the medical emergency input device isconfigured to generate a medical emergency signal when activated by auser.
 13. The patient treatment status notification system of claim 12,wherein: the central control circuit is configured to change a color anda blinking rate of at least one of the first multicolor light or thesecond multicolor light in response to receiving the medical emergencysignal.
 14. The patient treatment status notification system of claim 1,wherein: the EHR controller comprises a network server.
 15. The patienttreatment status notification system of claim 1, further comprising: acentral display system in communication with the EHR controller andconfigured to display the current treatment status of the patientassigned to examination room and an identity of the primary healthcareprovider assigned to the patient as indicated in the health records. 16.A patient treatment status notification system in a healthcare facilitywith multiple examination rooms including a first examination room and asecond examination room adjacent to the first examination room,comprising: an electronic health record (EHR) controller configured forreceiving and storing health records for a plurality of patients in thehealthcare facility; a first electronic visual status indicatorcomprising a first multicolor light installed at an exterior of thefirst examination room, wherein: the first multicolor light isconfigured to emit colored light to indicate a treatment status of apatient; and the patient is assigned to the first examination roomwithin health records for the patient stored in the EHR controller; asecond electronic visual status indicator connected with the firstelectronic visual status indicator and comprising a second multicolorlight installed at the exterior of the first examination room, whereinthe second multicolor light is configured to emit colored light toindicate, for the patient, a primary healthcare provider assigned to thepatient within the health records stored in the EHR controller; a firstindicator control circuit configured to communicate with and control thefirst electronic visual status indicator and the second electronicvisual status indicator of the first examination room, wherein the firstindicator control circuit is configured to control color of lightemitted by the first multicolor light and color of light emitted by thesecond multicolor light; at least one manual input device outside thefirst examination room, wherein the at least one manual input device isat least one of rotatable or pressable to receive user input to change atreatment status of the patient within a plurality of treatment statusesof a treatment cycle, wherein the treatment cycle identifies anoccurrence order of the plurality of treatment statuses; at least oneoccupancy sensor positioned in the first examination room and configuredto detect occupancy in the first examination room; a medical emergencyinput device in the first examination room, wherein the medicalemergency input device is configured to generate a medical emergencysignal when activated by a user; a switch multiplexer configured to:receive a user input signal from the at least one manual input devicefor the first examination room; receive an occupancy detection signalfrom the at least one occupancy sensor in the first examination room;and receive the medical emergency signal from the medical emergencyinput device in the first examination room; and a third electronicvisual status indicator comprising a third multicolor light installed atan exterior of the second examination room; a second indicator controlcircuit configured to communicate with and control the third electronicvisual status indicator of the second examination room, wherein thesecond indicator control circuit is configured to control a color oflight emitted by the third multicolor light; wherein: the plurality ofpatients comprises the patient assigned to the first examination room;and the health records for the patient identifies a current treatmentstatus selected from the plurality of treatment statuses in thetreatment cycle for the patient; and a central control circuitcommunicatively coupled to the first indicator control circuit, thesecond indicator control circuit, the switch multiplexer, and the EHRcontroller, wherein the central control circuit is configured to: causethe first electronic visual status indicator of the first examinationroom to emit light in a first color identifying the current treatmentstatus of the patient as indicated in the health records, wherein thecurrent treatment status of the patient is initiated by receiving, fromthe switch multiplexer, at least one of (1) a first user input signalbased on manual activation of the at least one manual input device or(2) the occupancy detection signal from the at least one occupancysensor; update, in the health records stored by the EHR controller, thecurrent treatment status of the patient assigned to the firstexamination room to a second treatment status of the plurality oftreatment statuses based at least on (1) the first user input and (2) achange in occupancy indicated by the occupancy detection signal; changethe light emitted by the first multicolor light of the first electronicvisual status indicator from the first color to a third coloridentifying the second treatment status based on the occurrence order ofthe plurality of treatment statuses indicated in the treatment cycle;and in response to receiving, from the switch multiplexer, the medicalemergency signal generated at the medical emergency input device in thefirst examination room, illuminate the third multicolor light of thethird electronic visual status indicator of the second examination roomin a sequential pattern with at least one of the first multicolor lightof the first electronic visual status indicator of the first examinationroom or the second multicolor light of the second electronic visualstatus indicator of the first examination room to lead responders to thefirst examination room.
 17. The patient treatment status notificationsystem of claim 16, further comprising: a fourth electronic visualstatus indicator comprising a fourth multicolor light installed at anexterior of a third examination room; a third indicator control circuitconfigured to communicate with and control the fourth electronic visualstatus indicator of the third examination room, wherein the thirdindicator control circuit is configured to control a color of lightemitted by the fourth multicolor light; and wherein the central controlcircuit is communicatively coupled to the third indicator controlcircuit, and the central control circuit is additionally configured to,in response to receiving, from the switch multiplexer, the medicalemergency signal generated at the medical emergency input device in thefirst examination room: change the color of light emitted by the thirdmulticolor light of the third electronic visual status indicator of thesecond examination room; and illuminate the fourth multicolor light ofthe fourth electronic visual status indicator of the third examinationroom in a sequential pattern with the third multicolor light of thethird electronic visual status indicator of the second examination roomleading toward the first examination room.
 18. The patient treatmentstatus notification system of claim 1, wherein: the central controlcircuit is configured to: cause the first multicolor light of theexamination room to emit light in a color associated with a room statusin response to the at least one manual input device receiving a userinput; and cause the first multicolor light to blink with the roomstatus at a first rate beginning after a predefined time period elapsesafter the at least one occupancy sensor positioned within theexamination room last detects occupancy in the examination room.
 19. Apatient treatment status notification system in a healthcare facilitywith multiple examination rooms, comprising: an electronic health record(EHR) controller configured for receiving and storing health records,wherein the health records identify a current treatment status selectedfrom a plurality of treatment statuses in a treatment cycle for aplurality of patients, and the treatment cycle identifies an occurrenceorder of the plurality of treatment statuses; a plurality of visualindicator systems including a first visual indicator system installed ata first examination room of a plurality of examination rooms within thehealthcare facility and a second visual indicator system installed at asecond examination room of the plurality of examination rooms, whereinthe first examination room and the second examination room are adjacentand each of the plurality of visual indicator systems comprises: anelectronic visual status indicator comprising a multicolor light at anexterior of a respective examination room of the plurality ofexamination rooms; an indicator control circuit integral with theelectronic visual status indicator and configured to communicate withand control the electronic visual status indicator and to control acolor of light emitted by the multicolor light; the first visualindicator system further comprising: at least one manual input deviceconfigured to receive a first user input and a second user input bymanual activation of the at least one manual input device, the seconduser input indicating a change in treatment status of a patient assignedto the first examination room of the plurality of examination rooms asindicated within the health records for the patient stored in the EHRcontroller, wherein the at least one manual input device is at least oneof rotatable or pressable to receive user input to change a treatmentstatus of the patient; and a medical emergency input device installedinside the first examination room, wherein the medical emergency inputdevice is configured to, when activated, generate a medical emergencysignal corresponding to the first examination room; a switch multiplexerconfigured to communicate with and receive the first user input and thesecond user input from the manual input device; and a central controlcircuit communicatively coupled to the EHR controller and the indicatorcontrol circuit of each of the plurality of visual indicator systems,wherein the central control circuit is configured to: in response toreceiving the first user input from the switch multiplexer, cause themulticolor light of the electronic visual status indicator of the firstvisual indicator system to emit light of a first color, wherein thefirst color identifies the current treatment status of the patientassigned to the first examination room as indicated in the treatmentcycle; and in response to receiving the second user input from theswitch multiplexer, change the color of the light emitted by themulticolor light of the electronic visual status indicator of the firstvisual indicator system from the first color to a second color toindicate a second treatment status of the plurality of treatmentstatuses, wherein the second color is identified based at least in parton (1) the second user input from the at least one manual input deviceof the first visual indicator system and (2) the occurrence order of theplurality of treatment statuses indicated in the treatment cycle; and inresponse to receiving the medical emergency signal generated at themedical emergency input device, illuminate the electronic visual statusindicator of the first visual indicator system and a second electronicvisual status indicator of the second visual indicator system in asequential flashing pattern to lead responders to the first examinationroom.